Hidden Gem: Super

Super (2010)

PLOT: After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, but lacking in heroic skills.

When his wife leaves him for the local pusher and his fragile mind is pushed to the limit, Frank (Rainn Wilson) sees a vision where he is touched by the hand of god. Frank then resolves to become a real life super hero, shutting up crime for good. With the help of comic-book clerk Libby (Ellen Page) The Crimson Bolt is born.

With his lack of super powers and a hardware store wrench as his super weapon, Frank sets about cracking skulls and cleaning up the streets with his motto…

“don’t steal… don’t deal drugs… and don’t molest kids”.

It is with the cracking of the skulls that Super turns from a screw-loose comedy into something a whole lot darker. The slapstick turns three shades more brutal and graphic as Frank loses control and sees his alter ego branded a menace by the police. The impressionable Libby soon wants to get in on the act and talks Frank into taking her on as his Sidekick, Bolty.

Page plays Bolty with an adolescent over-excitement (despite the character being in her twenties) and steals the show from a good supporting cast including Liv Tyler and Kevin Bacon. With some of the best comedy swearing since Pulp Fiction, fine performances and wince inducing gratuity, Super beats even the mighty Kick Ass in the anti-establishment superhero movie stakes.